Long-distance quantum communication in a decoherence-free subspace

We show how to realize long-distance quantum communication using a long-lived quantum memory, which is embedded in a decoherence-free subspace (DFS). Neutral atoms were used in the present scheme, whose interactions are catalyzed by single photons or weak coherent light. The generation, purification and swapping of logical entangled states are performed with help of cavity-assisted photon scattering which is robust to random variation in the atom-photon coupling rate.